This article outlines the development in the Norwegian population's usage of and costs to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and dietary supplements, according to how this has been measured in NAFKAMs bi-annual population surveys from 2012 and onwards.
The reports from each of the surveys are publically available, and can be found here: 2022 - 2020 - 2018 - 2016 - 2014 - 2012.
You may also read our article on the NAFKAM national survey in general (methodology, structure etc).
What is measured?
In the surveys, the concept of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes usage of therapies regulated by the Act No 64 about complementary and alternative medicine; herbs/ natural remedies, and/ or self-help techniques for health-related purposes.
NAFKAM does not consider ordinary use (in line with the declaration) of dietary supplements (e.g vitamins, minerals, trace elements etc) to strengthen one's health as CAM, but we measure the populations' use of such due to a specific assignment from Norwegian health authorities. For practical purposes, this is included in the survey and reporting of CAM use.
Introduction
The size and composition of the Norwegian population is yearly monitored by Statistics Norway. The gender-composition of NAFKAMs surveys aim to reflect this, on the basis of its 1,000 interviews of people aged 18 years or more:
Table: Development of Norwegian population 18 years or more, total and gender-wise from 2012, versus gender-composition in NAFKAMs surveys
| 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total population 18+ | 3,867,645 | 3,983,895 | 4,086,583 | 4,166,612 | 4,248,972 | 4,316,747 |
| % men | 49,8% | 50,0% | 50,1% | 50,1% | 50,2% | 50,2% |
| % women | 50,2% | 50,0% | 49,9% | 49,9% | 49,8% | 49,8% |
| % men in NAFKAM survey | 48,3% | 54,4% | 52,7% | 54,4% | 52,0% | 50,1% |
| % women in NAFKAM survey | 51,7% | 45,6% | 47,3% | 45,6% | 48,0% | 49,9% |
1. How does the usage of CAM and dietary supplements develop over time?
Table 1.1: Usage, independent of gender
| % of all respondents | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 45,3% | 41,0% | 35,8% | 36,5% | 39,3% | 38,3% |
| CAM treatment from providers | 36,6% | 30,9% | 23,5% | 22,4% | 20,7% | 24,9% |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 12,0% | 10,7% | 10,8% | 9,6% | 9,3% | 13,8% |
| Self-help techniques | 12,4% | 14,4% | 14,3% | 16,9% | 21,8% | 18,1% |
| Dietary supplements | 70,4% | 70,1% | 66,0% | 68,8% | 70,9% | 73,8% |
Table 1.2: Usage among men
| % of all male respondents | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 36,3% | 33,1% | 27,1% | 28,0% | 30,7% | 29,9% |
| CAM treatment from providers | 27,1% | 26,6% | 18,3% | 16,9% | 15,5% | 20,0% |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 9,4% | 8,0% | 7,7% | 7,7% | 8,8% | 10,0% |
| Self-help techniques | 7,0% | 7,7% | 6,5% | 10,7% | 15,4% | 10,0% |
| Dietary supplements | 66,3% | 65,5% | 60,9% | 62,5% | 70,1% | 69,9% |
Table 1.3: Usage among women
| % of all female respondents | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 53,7% | 50,5% | 45,5% | 46,8% | 48,6% | 46,7% |
| CAM treatment from provider | 45,5% | 36,1% | 29,3% | 29,1% | 26,2% | 29,9% |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 14,5% | 13,9% | 14,2% | 11,9% | 9,8% | 17,6% |
| Self-help techniques | 17,3% | 22,4% | 23,0% | 24,4% | 28,7% | 26,3% |
| Dietary supplements | 74,3% | 75,6% | 71,8% | 76,3% | 71,7% | 77,8% |
2. How are the costs to CAM and supplements developing?
Table 2.1: Average cost per user, independent of gender (NOK)
| All users | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 2610 | 2409 | 2547 | 2970 | 2561 | 4718 |
| CAM treatment from providers | 2498 | 2478 | 2738 | 3114 | 3770 | 4817 |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 688 | 1206 | 1446 | 995 | 1016 | 3386 |
| Self-help techniques | 928 | 916 | 780 | 1733 | 535 | 1536 |
| Dietary supplements | 1167 | 964 | 931 | 1013 | 1038 | 1095 |
Table 2.2: Men's costs (NOK)
| Male users | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 2394 | 1753 | 1612 | 2159 | 2580 | 6967 |
| CAM treatment from providers | 2565 | 1753 | 1701 | 2569 | 3898 | 2599 |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 1701 | 1233 | 1449 | 1166 | 1332 | 5380 |
| Self-help techniques | 440 | 654 | 284 | 814 | 363 | 526 |
| Dietary supplements | 1112 | 930 | 849 | 1038 | 1125 | 924 |
Table 2.3: Women's costs (NOK)
| Female users | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 2745 | 2926 | 3174 | 3561 | 2549 | 3682 |
| CAM treatment from providers | 2461 | 3094 | 3472 | 3491 | 3687 | 6324 |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 1346 | 1188 | 1499 | 862 | 806 | 2253 |
| Self-help techniques | 1142 | 1027 | 1000 | 2258 | 635 | 1921 |
| Dietary supplements | 1214 | 1000 | 1075 | 989 | 945 | 1253 |
3. How is the usage of specific CAM therapies developing?
Table 3.1: Usage of predefined CAM therapies, among all respondents
| Therapy name | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | 9,9% | 7,1% | 5,5% | 4,7% | 4,8% | 5,3% |
| Cupping | - | - | 1,3% | 0,5% | 0,7% | 1,5% |
| Gestalt therapy | - | 0,2% | - | - | - | - |
| Homeopathy | 3,0% | 1,8% | 0,9% | 0,7% | 0,4 | 1,3% |
| Kinesiology | 1,7% | 1,1% | 0,7% | 0,3% | 0,4% | - |
| Massage therapy | 22,2% | 20,3% | 14,3% | 14,1% | 14,0% | 17,4% |
| Naprapathy | - | 4,6% | 2,7% | 2,7% | 2,9% | 5,1% |
| Naturopathy | 2,0% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Osteopathy | - | - | 1,4% | 1,1% | 1,4% | 3,4% |
| Other CAM therapy (not on the list) | 4,4% | 4,0% | 1,8% | 1,7% | 1,5% | 0,9% |
| Psychoteraphy (not from a psychologist/ psychiatrist) | 2,0% | - | - | - | - | 2,8% |
| Reflexology | 4,2% | 3,1% | 2,2% | 1,2% | 1,2% | 1,7% |
| Reiki healing | 3,8% | 2,8% | 1,2% | 2,3% | 1,4% | 2,3% |
| Though field therapy | - | 0,9% | - | - | - | - |
4. How is the gender composition in the CAM user group developing?
Table4.1: Men in the user group
| Male proportion of CAM users | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 38,7% | 43,9% | 39,9% | 41,6% | 40,6% | 39,2% |
| CAM treatment from providers | 35,7% | 46,8% | 41,0% | 40,9% | 39,1% | 40,2% |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 37,7% | 40,8% | 37,5% | 43,6% | 49,5% | 36,2% |
| Self-help techniques | 27,4% | 29,0% | 23,9% | 34,3% | 36,7% | 27,6% |
| Dietary supplements | 45,4% | 50,8% | 48,6% | 49,4% | 51,4% | 47,4% |
Table 4.2: Women in the user group
| Female proportion of CAM users | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total use of CAM | 61,3% | 56,1% | 60,1% | 58,4% | 59,4% | 60,8% |
| CAM treatment from providers | 64,3% | 53,2% | 59,0% | 59,1% | 60,9% | 59,8% |
| Herbs/ natural remedies | 62,3% | 59,2% | 62,5% | 56,4% | 50,5% | 63,8% |
| Self-help techniques | 72,6% | 71,0% | 76,1% | 65,7% | 63,3% | 72,4% |
| Dietary supplements | 54,6% | 49,2% | 51,4% | 50,6% | 48,6% | 52,6% |